Filed In: Makeup
shu uemura x Murakami Cosmikawaii & Cosmicool Palettes
I dare you to find a beauty collection that’s happier-looking than this latest shu uemura x Tadashi Murakami collaboration for Holiday 2016. The brand has partnered once again with the iconic pop artist to release a grouping of products that’s knocking it into the stratosphere with the most whimsical packaging EVER to go along with an impressive array of products — such as the Cosmic Blossom Eye & Cheek Palettes in Cosmikawaii and Cosmicool (both limited edition) featured in today’s post.
Each palette bears four eyeshadows in a mix of shimmer, pearlized, and matte finishes (the four larger pans at the top), 3 eyeshadows in glitter finishes (top two at right, bottom left), and one blush. Apart from all the shades being generously sized so that you can easily pick up the hue you want without fear of cross-contamination, the palette also includes 2 small applicators: one has a fluffy brush on one end and a more compact brush on the other, while the second is a dual-sponge tipped applicator.
I’ve had some misses with shu uemura eyeshadows in the past, but the shades of both Cosmikawaii and Cosmicool are all quite pigmented and provide good colour payoff along with a very smooth application and effortless blendability. The glittery hues are not really meant to be worn opaque; think of them more as “accents” to be used either strategically (under the brows, inner eye corner) or even layered over other eyeshadows to provide a touch of sparkle — plus they can easily double as highlighters, albeit on the more visible side but since we’re in holiday mode, that works too. The blushes may look rather intense in the pan, but in reality they fall much lighter upon the skin and can be easily diffused for a softer look or even amped up for a stronger effect.
Flower Ball (3D), 2002 Acrylic on canvas mounted on board ∼ Takashi Murakami
Cosmikawaii Cosmic Blossom Eye & Cheek Palette (CAN $85.00) | The warmer leaning of the two, here is the shade breakdown:
- cosmic red – cranberry shimmer
- orange – orange shimmer
- mauve purple – lavender pearl
- midnight purple – eggplant matte
- yellow gold – pale gold with glitter
- powder blue – icy blue with silvery glitter
- rose pink – baby pink with silvery glitter
- coral with gold glitters – tangerine based coral with ultra fine gold glitter
Cosmicool Cosmic Blossom Eye & Cheek Palette (CAN $85.00) | The obviously cooler-leaning of the two palettes, although I find the shades can easily be worn by warmer complexions as well — it’s all about mixing and layering. The shade breakdown:
- cosmic blue – more like dirty light purple with a light iridescence
- purple gray – lavender with shimmer
- gray – browned grey with iridescence
- midnight navy – blackened navy matte
- lavender with iridescent glitters – icy lavender with silver glitter
- deep gold – yellow gold with glitter
- silver – starlight silver with glitter
- pink with silver glitters – true rose with ultrafine silvery glitter
Even if it weren’t for the outer packaging that makes me want to almost frame these lovelies, and forgetting for a second that my comfort zone is with neutrals, there’s just something about both Cosmikawaii and Cosmicool that just works. Lately, I’ve been experimenting with more colour (baby steps, though) and I really appreciate that both palettes have this fun yet sophisticated vibrancy that’s totally in line with the Japanese aesthetic, but not so intense that the average woman couldn’t pull off as well. But I do confess that those smiley flower faces so totally have my number …
Available at The Bay, Sephora & online
PR samples/As always, all opinions are my own
Charlotte Tilbury · The Legendary Muse Palette & Black Diamonds Colour Chameleon, Holiday 2016
For Holiday 2016, Charlotte Tilbury has released several gift sets at varying price points; one such item is The Legendary Muse Eyeshadow Palette that is not only filled with four party-ready shades, but comes adorned with a festive star pattern on the lid. A new discovery for me is this Black Diamonds Colour Chameleon, a combination of smokey, sexy, sophisticated, and glam all housed in once pencil. Sounds almost too good to be true, right? It’s not.
To see all previous reviews on this brand, click on this Charlotte Tilbury link
The Legendary Muse Luxury Palette, limited edition (CAN $64.00) | Four eyeshadow shades bearing varying degrees of shimmer (and one with glitter), housed in the brand’s signature deep burgundy & rose gold compact but prettied up for the holidays with a star pattern on the lid. The shade breakdown:
- top left – rose gold, shimmer
- top right – champagne gold, satin shimmer
- bottom left – gold with ultra fine glitter
- bottom right – peach/rose/gold, satin shimmer
Right on point with the rose gold trend that’s still going strong in both fashion and cosmetics, this palette is perfect for those who want a little bit of glamour to their look but still want it to be utterly wearable. All four hues apply smoothly and blend flawlessly with no fall down, although it should be noted that the gold shade is not as opaque as the rest due to its ultrafine glitter, but is made even lovelier because of that since you can almost ‘control’ the bling factor better — or even layer it over other shades to add a touch of sparkle. Staying power (over primer) is excellent, staying true until removed.
Black Diamonds Colour Chameleon (CAN $32.00) | An eyeliner pencil in a chubby stick format in a deep charcoal hue filled with finely ground silvery/gold glitter. The texture is incredibly creamy, which means it will apply easily and without any harsh tugging along the sensitive skin of your eyes. Once applied, you do have about a minute or so to smudge/blend it out; after that, it’s basically set in stone. What makes this standout for me, is the good ratio of glitter in the mix that gives a lift to what would otherwise be a run-of-the-mill blackened liner. NOTE: not to be applied to the waterline.
Shimmer aside, this palette didn’t initially feel very ‘holiday’ to me at first glance, but after swatching and playing around with some looks — then going in and adding Black Diamonds for definition and depth, I’m actually really loving the more subtle take on holiday bling The Legendary Muse provides. And while it may lean a little warm, the shades are not so scary pigmented that those with fair complexions can’t pull them off – it’s all a matter of application proportions. After all, makeup should be about fun & experimentation and there’s no better time than the holidays to do both! It’s almost law, in fact …
Charlotte Tilbury products are available at select retailers and online
PR samples/As always, all opinions are my own
Giorgio Armani · Night Light Eyes and Face Palette
Released as part of the Giorgio Armani Holiday 2016 Collection, the limited edition Night Light Eyes and Face Palette is positively stunning. Housed in the brand’s signature black-lacquered ovoid shape, it bears Mr. Armani’s signature in gold lettering across the outer lid and comes complete with a velour carrying sleeve and two sponge-tipped applicators, but the real magic lies with the actual shades. And I thought last year’s version was amazing; the Night Light Palette has just blown that right out of the way …
CHANEL SS/17 · Codes Subtils, Noir Pétrole, Libre & Noir Moderne
Last post was all about cheeks; today’s focuses on eyes and lips with a few more selections from the CHANEL Coco Codes Collection for Spring/Summer 2017 (it’s crazy to even contemplate Spring — or even Summer right now, but that’s the beauty industry for you). What makes everything here so unique, in my honest opinion, is the utter wearability of each and every hue and even though I don’t mind stirring things up from time to time with pops of unexpected colour, there’s something comforting about going with standby favourite shades. Especially when they’re all such amazing performers … along with sporting those alluring double C’s.
Previously reviewed from this collection:
“My favourite time to wear Rouge Coco Shine Noir Moderne is in the Spring. I like the idea of a shade of black. I also wanted elements of comfort in the collection – beauty is not just about artifice” ∼ Lucia Pica
Les 4 Ombres 278 Codes Subtils, limited edition (CAN $68.00) | One of two eyeshadow quads released with this collection (the other being 275 Codes Élégants), this one somewhat softer-leaning with shades that can be used to create a subtle look for day, or amped up for evening by applying them with a dampened brush.
- top left – shimmering rose/peach
- top right – platinum bronze/taupe
- bottom right – warm intense pewter (with a strong olive undercurrent)
- bottom left – bronzed mid-brown
Ever since CHANEL reformulated their 4 Ombres formula, I have been really impressed with the level of pigmentation and how smoothly the shades apply. This palette is no exception; seen in the swatches below, all have been applied dry and it’s clear that the saturation level is excellent, although using a fluffier brush (and going in with a lighter hand), you can also diffuse each shade for a softer effect. Each has shimmer of varying complexity that lends depth of tone and a subtle radiance, and all display very little powdery kickback when swirling brushes across their surface. Staying power (over primer) is outstanding, with the colours staying true until removed.
Stylo Yeux Waterproof 931 Noir Pétrole, limited edition (CAN $35.00) | One of my favourite eyeliner formulas is CHANEL’s Stylo Yeux Waterproof, and while there have been a few misses for me colour-wise, I still fall back on these time and time again. With a smooth application (which means no tugging along the sensitive skin of the eyes) and strong colour saturation per swipe, I get easily 6+ hours of wear — even when applied along the waterline — before needing to touch up.
What makes this shade unique, however, is its intense mossy green base colour which is also a great alternative to wearing straight ip black, made even more special via the bronze glints in its depths. Total ♥!
Rouge Allure Velvet 62 Libre (CAN $43.00) | Adding two new shades to the Rouge Allure Velvet roster (61 La Secrète not shown), the finish on this lipstick formula is exactly as the name implies: velvety. Very hydrating in feel throughout the wearing, this rosewood-tinged beige hue is ultra wearable by a broad range of skin tones and provides a touch more colour than a straight up nude would. Makes a perfect swipe-and-go shade too.
Rouge Coco Shine 128 Noir Moderne (CAN $43.00) | Another standout of the collection, this is a wearable version of cult-fave shade Rouge Noir. The sheerness and slip of the formula take the scare factor out of what looks to be an über-vampy hue and turn it into wearable sexy. I’m having a major moment with Noir Moderne and I’m already planning a backup. Seriously.
At the risk of repeating myself, there’s really no other better way to put it than to say that all the pieces I’ve seen of this collection thus far, are all so worth your time to look into when everything launches. Gabrielle Chanel, whose love of these classic codes (red, black, gold, white & beige) was definitely stated, was all about making women feel liberated and empowered; Lucia Pica continues the tradition by delving into the archives and reworking these shades with modern formulas and textures — all while keeping their integrity intact. So well done … #slowclap
Available early January 2017 at all CHANEL counters
PR samples/As always, all opinions are my own
CHANEL SS/17 · Coco Code Blush Harmony & Élégance Blush
How’s this for an interesting contradiction; while a snow storm rages outside my window, I’m bringing you pieces from the CHANEL’s Spring/Summer 2017 Coco Codes Collection. Then again, this may just be the perfect antidote to the blizzard, no?
Coco Chanel was inspired by 5 shades: red, black, gold, white, and beige and for Spring 2017, Lucia Pica, Global Creative Makeup and Color Designer for the brand has found a way to reinvent these classic hues with several new twists, yet still manages to maintain their harmonic purity.
“Elegance is being equally beautiful inside and outside” ∼ Gabrielle Chanel
“Red, black, gold, white, beige: these are the ‘secret codes’ of CHANEL beauty” ∼ Lucia Pica
Coco Code Blush Harmony, limited edition (CAN $70.00) | The undisputed star of the collection as well as being the namesake piece, these are four blush hues — two matte and two satin — in one compact with raised lettering embossed across the surface, that are “wearable and more radiant reworkings of the original codes”. Create a customized shade by swirling all the colours together; the level of intensity will depend on which shade you pick up more of. Alternatively, you can use the top right shade as a warm-leaning contour product, or use it to tone down the red hue. Both the peach-leaning beige (top left) and the honey gold (bottom right) can serve as softly elegant highlighters, or combined with either the tan or red to add radiance. Honestly, there’s no limit (well, maybe there’s some limit) to how many combinations can be created.
There is some powdery kickback seen in the pan when a brush is swirled across the surface, but which doesn’t translate as any fall down, while the texture lays absolutely smoothly along the skin. CHANEL has mastered the art of creating a powdered blush that applies perfectly seamlessly and blends like a dream, and lasting power (over foundation) stays true for the duration.
370 Élégance Joues Contraste (CAN $53.00) | As a huge fan of the Joues Contraste formula and considering the fact that I’ve actually been on the hunt for a blush this exact shade, I believe there may have been some squealing involved when this beauty came in. A gorgeous mix of peach, nude, and dusty pale rose, there’s also some ultrafine gold shimmer thrown in — but not the obvious kind, mind you — to create a unique subtle rose-gold hue. Considering its pale nature, this shade is actually quite pigmented and even though this too displays the same powdery kickback as Coco Code, it nevertheless applies seamlessly along the skin. Absolutely STUNNING and a colour that will be universally wearable on so many skin tones.
I couldn’t think of a more appropriate way to kick off CHANEL’s Spring/Summer 2017 Coco Code Collection than with this lovely cheek duo. Apart from the obvious aesthetics, each piece is also eminently worth of adding to one’s ‘blush wardrobe’ (I’m going to make this a thing) and both can easily transcend the seasons by virtue of their wearability — no crazy colours found here, thank you very much. Yes, the price point veers towards the steep side, but that’s not exactly unexpected for a luxury brand; thankfully the excellent quality makes up for that.
Available early January 2017 at all CHANEL counters
PR samples/As always, all opinions are my own
